Umno-PAS union to enable Muslims to return to power - Hadi

Abdul Hadi Awang said PAS' formalisation of ties with Umno is to facilitate  Muslims returning to the seat of power in the country.

Speaking at a ceramah after a prayer event in Terengganu tonight, the PAS president said Muslims must unite so that they could rule over the non-Muslims.

He cited the situation in Medina during the Zaman Jahiliyah (Age of Ignorance) when they were two warring factions before the advent of Islam.

"But when they were converted by the Prophet Muhammad, they became united and when they were united, they became rulers.

"Although the population of non-Muslims far outnumbered the Muslims then, the latter still ruled for 1,300 years," he said.

Hadi then drew a comparison with the current political scenario in the country.

"As you can see, the (Pakatan Harapan) government is filled with non-Muslims. There are 66 non-Muslim MPs in Parliament and only 58 Muslim MPs when the population of the country is only 35 percent non-Muslims.

"This is similar to Indonesia where, despite having a majority Muslim population, the economy, for instance, is controlled by the non-Muslims," said the Marang MP.

This is possible because Muslims are busy fighting with each other, he added.

"We must work towards being united and staying strong, come what may. There are high tides and low tides ("zaman pasang dan zaman surut"). Our zaman pasang will come but it will not be easy," he said, to shouts of "Allahuakhbar" from those present.

Hadi also commented on the allegation that the party received RM90 million from Umno in return for support prior to the last general election.

"They (Harapan) slandered us as having received money. We got the money from sources that are halal. Our members now number a million plus, nationwide. If one member donates RM100, that's RM100 million. What is RM90 million then? Even RM900 million is not surprising," he said.

What should matter are sincere contributions from those who believe in divine rewards, he said.

Earlier this week, Umno and PAS announced the formalisation of their political ties which acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan described as their "wedding ceremony."

Both said that their cooperation is founded on the agenda of uniting the ummah (Muslim community).

PAS has been under fire over allegations that it received RM90 million from Umno. The party has denied this but the matter is still being investigated by the MACC.

Meanwhile, the party is also staving off allegations that it paid RM1.4 million through a mediator to settle Hadi's defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.